Greg Monroe – Photo Courtesy of the Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks dropped their preseason opener, 105-95 to the Bulls in Chicago on Tuesday night.
The Bucks led by three points at halftime, then rested four of their five starters the rest of the way as Chicago pulled away for the win.
It was only a preseason game, but it was clear that a real rivalry is brewing between the two teams. The Bucks and Bulls will face each other four times during the regular season, the first of which comes Jan. 5 at the United Center.
Jimmy Butler and reserve Doug McDermott scored 23 points each to lead the Bulls.
Rookie guard Rashad Vaughn got the start for the Bucks and responded with a team-high 20 points on eight of 14 shooting from the field.
The Bucks held the Bulls to 37 points and just 28% shooting from the field in the first half.
Bucks coach Jason Kidd said, “We’ve concentrated on defense and I thought those guys in the first half did a really good job. Offensively it will come. We had some turnovers, some charges where we have to recognize who is in front of us. But for the first preseason game I thought there was a lot of good stuff for us to build on.”
Greg Monroe, playing his first game for the Bucks, had six points and four rebounds in 17 minutes.
The Bucks made three of eleven three-pointers with Vaughn hitting three of six. Chicago made 13 of 39 with McDermott finishing five of eleven beyond the arc.
The Bucks return to action this Saturday night against the Detroit Pistons at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.